JetBlue lifts bag fees again, first checked bag now $50

JetBlue Airways has raised its checked bag fees for the third time in less than a year, with a first checked bag in economy now costing $50 when bought more than 24 hours before departure in a non-peak period, up from $45.

Travelers who pay within 24 hours of departure will be charged $60. In peak periods, such as holidays or summer, the fee is $55, up from $49, and $70 within 24 hours of departure.

The airline said the increase was needed to cover rising costs. “We’re adjusting checked bag fees to help offset rising fuel and operating costs,” JetBlue said in a statement. “This helps us keep our base fares competitive while giving customers the choice to pay for a checked bag only if they need one.”

Holders of a co-branded JetBlue credit card or elite frequent flyer status are exempt from the fees.

Jet fuel, an airline’s biggest cost after labor, has roughly doubled this year since the start of the Iran war in February, costing carriers billions and pushing up ticket prices. Jet fuel was selling for $4.44 a gallon on Tuesday for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Other airlines often match fee increases. Major U.S. carriers did so earlier this year after JetBlue raised its bag fees. The changes were reported earlier by the Thrifty Traveler blog.